Living the Lyrics: “Closer” by Lifepoint Worship

If you were at Steuby STL this past summer, you almost certainly heard the song Closer by Lifepoint Worship.  Maybe you really connected with that song this summer.  But what about now?  How do you continue to live those lyrics 3 months later?

The Need: Love

At the root of the lyrics to Closer is a sense of desperate dependence on Christ.  Over and over, the song describes the ways that we need God’s love.  We need his love like we need water.  We need his love like we need the very breath inside our lungs.

Those lyrics took on a new life for me as I sang them with some friends around a camp fire.  The wind shifted my way, and I found myself choking because I was breathing in smoke instead of oxygen.  3 months past Steubenville, past that mountain top experience of Christ’s love, are you breathing in his love or are you choking on smoke?

The Gift: Freedom

One of the greatest gifts that God gives us is freedom.  We can choose every day to love him or to turn our back.  But the thing about God is that we need him.  At the very root of our being, we are made for love.  We are made for intimacy with Christ.  We need him even more than breath itself.  When I choose things that aren’t Christ, I feel it.  It feels a lot like choking on smoke around a fire.  When I separate myself from his love and choose to put my focus on other things, I am reminded of just how desperate I am for his love.

The thing about God’s love is that it pursues you.  He doesn’t want to leave you in the smoke.  As verse 2 says, we can hear him “through the wind and rain.”  He calls our name.  He is constantly seeking us and desires to draw us closer to his love.  Therefore, wherever you may find yourself as you read this now, Jesus is pursuing you.  He wants to draw you closer to his love.  As we sang this summer, He wants to be closer than your breath. Closer than your every step.  Closer than the song you sing.  Closer than anything.

“Closer” Lyrics

Like the rushing wind
Would you breathe within my heart, heart
Through the raging storm

Would you hold me in your arms, arms

‘Cause I need you
How I need you

I need your love like I need water
I need your love like I need breath inside of my lungs
Burn in my heart just like a fire
Come and take me over, Jesus draw me closer
To your heart

Through the wind and rain
I can hear you call my name, name
And when the nights get rough
I will still sing out your Praise

‘Cause I need you
How I need you

I need your love like I need water
I need your love like I need breath inside of my lungs
Burn in my heart just like a fire
Come and take me over, Jesus draw me closer
To your heart, your heart, your heart

Closer than my every breath
Closer than my every step
Closer than the song I sing
Closer than anything

Closer than my every breath
Closer than my every step
Closer than the song I sing
Closer than anything

I need your love like I need water
I need your love like I need breath inside of my lungs
Burn in my heart just like a fire
Come and take me over, Jesus draw me closer
I need your love like I need water
I need your love like I need breath inside of my lungs
Burn in my heart just like a fire
Come and take me over, Jesus draw me closer
To your heart, your heart, your heart
Oh, how I need you Lord
Come and take me over, Jesus draw me closer
To your heart